Roll on World Cup! FIVE games today, including last night’s midnight matinee that I didn’t bother to preview because I didn’t realize was happening. Let’s dig in.
Day 2 Recap
Qatar 1-1 Switzerland (Group B)
Goals: Embolo (17’); Khoukhi (90+4’)
This match was an absolute snoozer until injury time of the second half. Breel Embolo put Switzerland ahead with a penalty kick early in the first half and then the Swiss seemed to do everything except actually try to score a goal. Qatar, meanwhile, was playing the worst kind of defensive low-block-and-counter anti-football; Switzerland had 86% of the ball and won the xG battle 3.24-0.76. But the thing is, if you just try and hold on to a 1-0 lead, sometimes you get football’d. That’s what happened when Boualem Khouki fired home a headed ball into the net from a simple cross, and Qatar escaped with the dumbest of points imaginable. Group B is now wide open, remarkably. The Swiss… missed.
Brazil 1-1 Morocco (Group C)
Goals: Vinicius Jr. (32’); Saibari (21’)
I tell you what, for most of the first half I thought we were watching Wario Brazil, especially after Saibari put Morocco ahead midway. Brazil looked listless and wilty in the New Jersey heat, and then Vinicius Junior came to play, rifling home a rocket of an equalizer. Brazil woke up and actually tried to play some football in the second half, and it was a very even affair with both sides getting chances but neither able to put it in the ol’ onion bag. This had the feel of a heavyweight slug-fest. Also: Spurs should pay whatever Lille asks for Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi.
Haiti 0-1 Scotland (Group C)
Goals: McGinn (29’)
I honestly thought this would be a dreadful match featuring two bad teams, but it turned out to be one of the more fun matches of the Cup so far. It’s a pretty geographically ridiculous match up — Scotland vs. Haiti in Boston? — but I was told Boston has the third largest Haitian population in the world, and there were also plenty of Scots in attendance. Haiti were a fun attacking side but had a problem with their finishing, while Scotland played physical. McGinn’s deflected goal was the difference. Because Brazil and Morocco, the two favorites from this group, drew their match, Scotland now lead the group.
Australia vs. Turkey (Group D)
Goals: Irankunde (27’), Metcalf (75’)
Look, I didn’t watch this and you probably didn’t either. So here are the highlights.
Day 4 Matches
Germany vs. Curaçao (Group E)
NRG Park, Houston, Texas, USA
TV: FOX (USA), Telemundo (USA - Español), ITV 1 (UK)
Stream: Fox One, Peacock (Español)
Current/former Tottenham players involved: none
Netherlands vs. Japan (Group F)
AT&T Stadium, Dallas, Texas, USA
TV: FOX (USA), Telemundo (USA - Español), ITV 1 (UK)
Stream: Fox One, Peacock (Español)
Current/former Tottenham players involved: Micky van de Ven (Netherlands)
Cote d’Ivoire vs. Ecuador (Group E)
One Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, USA
TV: FOX (USA), Telemundo (USA - Español), BBC One (UK)
Stream: Fox One, Peacock (Español)
Current/former Tottenham players involved: none
Sweden vs. Tunisia (Group F)
Estadio Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico
TV: Fox Sports 1 (USA), Telemundo (USA - Español), ITV 1 (UK)
Stream: Fox One, Peacock (Español)
Current/former Tottenham players involved: Lucas Bergvall (Sweden)